HAGÅTÑA (The Guam Daily Post) — A police officer facing charges that stem from a July fight in Tumon is back on duty, according to Guam Police Department spokesperson Officer Berlyn Savella.
Last month, police officer Peter Jesse Leon Guerrero was charged with aggravated assault as a third-degree felony for his alleged involvement in a physical altercation in Tumon in July.
Along with being charged in the Superior Court of Guam, Leon Guerrero was placed on administrative leave as GPD conducted an internal affairs investigation into Leon Guerrero.
On Tuesday, Savella confirmed to The Guam Daily Post that Leon Guerrero was back on duty. GPD’s internal investigation into Leon Guerrero is ongoing.
Around the time of Leon Guerrero’s arrest in August, Savella confirmed internal investigations are conducted over a 90-day period.
Fight at beach
On July 31, police responded to a disturbance at a beachside gathering in Tumon. Upon arrival, officers determined a physical altercation involving three men had taken place.
One man was taken to the hospital for medical attention, according to Savella, who added the other two men left the scene before police arrived.
About a month later, Peter Leon Guerrero, his brother, Jesse Leon Guerrero, and Frederico Santiago were arrested.
Savella said it took time for arrests to be made due to numerous witnesses having to be located and interviewed and evidence needing to be confiscated.
According to court documents, Jesse Leon Guerrero and Santiago got into an argument that escalated into a scuffle before family members stopped the fight. Peter Leon Guerrero allegedly assaulted Santiago.
Last week, Leon Guerrero appeared in court to answer to the charges against him. However, he did not enter a plea because he had yet to find an attorney. His next hearing is scheduled for Oct. 4.
Investigations
In the weeks that followed Leon Guerrero’s arrest and charging, GPD launched two more internal investigations into reports of alleged police brutality – both of which are still ongoing, according to Savella, who added the officers under investigation also remain on duty.
One investigation into an officer involves footage from a surveillance camera at a Dededo residence that captured several police officers apprehending Joshua Paul Taitano, who was evading police on a motorcycle and who was later charged in connection to having methamphetamine.
In the video, Taitano was on his motorcycle when he was hit by one of two patrol cars following him, which caused him to fall to the ground. Then the officer who drove the car stopped, immediately exited his vehicle, ran toward Taitano and tackled him up against the gate of the residence.
Three other officers appeared to restrain Taitano, who was brought to the ground and surrounded by officers in the video. Taitano was escorted to a patrol car minutes later.
Taitano’s mug shot shows he suffered bruising and swelling around his face. His left eye, in particular, was black and nearly swollen shut in the photo released by the Department of Corrections. Savella stated, at the time, Taitano was taken to the hospital after being arrested.
Dededo precinct
The other police brutality report that GPD is investigating was made by Yigo couple Veronica and John Patao.
The Pataos told the Post they were following up on an assault complaint they filed at Dededo Precinct when they were held for questioning by police officers.
The experience resulted in Veronica Patao allegedly having a table pushed up against her chest by an officer before hitting her head on the ground and having a seizure. The officer in question, and possibly others, were also reported by Patao to be yelling profanities at her and saying she was faking the seizure.
Meanwhile, her husband, John Patao, was kept in a separate holding area for about nine hours while Veronica Patao was taken to the hospital for treatment.
The couple, however, who both have several medical ailments, were arrested, and Veronica Patao was booked and then released.
Peter J. Leon Guerrero
